Movable glass panes for windows, doors, and the like



United States PatentO MOVABLE GLASS PANES FOR WINDOWS, DOORS,

AND THE LIKE This invention relates to movable glass panes for windows, doors and the like and more particularly to an improved means for mounting and operating such panes.

The invention has for an object a means for operating such movable glass panes which is simple in construction and operation, and which provides absolute safety in the operation of the glass panes.

Hitherto, arrangements for permitting the opening of glazed windows include a movable sash or frame, in which the glass pane is mounted fast and immovable. Although this is a method generally adopted in the building industry, it has considerable disadvantages, including in particular the fact that these movable sashes or frames must be made independent of the general frames of the windows, doors, or the like, thus having the overall effect of increasing the cost of the completed window or door. Furthermore, the fixing of the glass in the frames requires a nailing and fastening operation, which is always delicate owing to the fragile nature of glass.

By virtue of the construction according to the present invention, all the above described inconveniences are obviated, and rapid and easy operation of the glass pane is achieved, while the latter is mounted directly in the fixed frame of the window, door, or the like.

To this end, the present invention consists in a window, glazed door, or the like which includes a rectangular frame member, the provision of means for mounting and operating a movable, unframed glass pane in said frame member, which comprises a pair of substantially U-section guides, formed in or carried by the uprights of the frame, in which the glass pane slides and is guided by its lateral edges, a pair of vertically extending rails fixed to and supporting the lower edge of the pane, a cord attached to the bottom edge of each rail and carrying a counterweight, and a grooved pulley for each cord, each of said pulleys being situated in a horizontal plane slightly higher than that occupied by the bottom ends of the rails in the position of maximum opening of the glass pane.

Preferably, the rails are concealed in the closed position below the window opening, inside a casing in which the pulleys and counterweights are likewise accommodated.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate diagrammatically and by way of example, one embodiment thereof, and in which:

Figure l is a front elevation, partly in section, of a window in accordance with the invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are sectional side views thereof, in the open and closed positions of the glass pane respectively; and

Figure 4 is a section of a detail, on a larger scale, taken on the line IVIV of Figure 1, showing one construction of the guides for the glass pane.-

In said drawings, the window comprises guides 1 formed in the lateral uprights of a window frame 2, in which ice slides-a movable glass pane ,3 which engages the guides by its edges.

The glass pane 3 is supported at the bottom on the two rails 4 and 5, which likewise slide in the guides 1, and which in turn are each connected at their lower ends by a cord or cable 6, which passes over a groove in a pulley 7, to a counterweight 8 of a suitable weight to counterbalance the glass pane thereby facilitating a determined opening position.

The pulleys 7, in order to fulfil their purpose, must be situated in a plane slightly higher than that reached by the bottom ends of the rails 4, 5 in the maximum opening position. The assembly of pulleys and counterweights, and also the rails 4, 5 are housed, when the window is completely closed, in the bottom part of the latter, in a cavity 9, which may if desired be concealed by a, preferably detachable cover 10.

The top part of the glass pane, both in the maximum open position and in the opposite closed position, is partly concealed externally by a plate 11, inorder to prevent the entry of rain, or the like above the glass pane.

It will be understood that the length of the cord or cable 6, and hence the travel of the counterweight 8 in the raising and lowering movements of the glass pane 3, must at least equal the path to be travelled by the glass pane in the opening and closing movements.

The glass pane is preferably provided with a suitable handle 12 for the purpose of operating it.

In Figure 4 shows a practical construction for the guide 1, in which it is constituted by a metal section 13 of substantially U-shape, inside which is housed a lining strip of felt 14 or the like following its contour, the glass 3 fitting inside its arms of the U. In this way the glass is resiliently but firmly secured, enabling it to slide easily and preventing the entry of air or water from the outside, while damping any vibrations to which it may be subjected.

I claim:

1. In a building structure of the class comprising a window, glazed door or the like which includes a rectangular frame member having a pair of uprights for said door or the like, the provision of means for mounting and operating a movable, unframed glass pane in said frame member which comprises a pair of substantially U-section guides carried by the uprights of said frame member in which said pane is guided by its lateral edges and along which it is adapted to slide, a pair of vertically extending rails abutting against and supporting the lower edge of said pane, a cord attached to the bottom end of each rail, a counterweight on each of said cords, and a grooved pulley over which each cord runs, each of said pulleys being situated in a horizontal plane slightly higher than that occupied by said bottom ends of said rail-s in the position of maximum opening of said glass pane.

2. Structure as claimed in claim 1, whichfurther includes a bottom casing and a detachable cover for said casing for concealing said pulleys, counterweights and rails when the glass pane is in its limit closing position.

3. Structure as claimed in claim 1, which further includes a plate fitted to the upper part of said frame member and extending to cover the upper edge of said glass pane in both its open and closed limit positions whereby to prevent entry of rain-water.

4. In a window structure, in combination, a transparent substantially rigid sheet having a pair of opposite side edge portions and a bottom edge; a pair of elongated substantially parallel guide means longer than said sheet, being substantially vertical when in use, and engaging said side edge portions of said sheet, respectively, for guiding said sheet up and down; and counterbalancing means for counterbalancing the weight of said sheet so that itmay be easily moved up and down, said counterbalancing means including a pair of members respectively guided by said guide means for free movement together with said sheet and abutting against 2 the latter only at said bottom edge thereof to transfer the force of said counterbalancing means to said sheet,the abutment betweensaid bottom edge of said sheet and said members forming the only engagement between counterbalancing means and sheet so'that it is unnecessary to fixedly connect any elements to the sheet.

5. In a window structure, in combination, a pane of glass having a pair of opposite side edge portions and a bottom-edge; a pair of elongated substantially parallel guide means longer than said-pane of glass, being substantially vertical when in use, and engaging said side edge portions of said pane, respectively, for guiding said pane of glassbetween an upper window opening position and a lower window closing position; a pair of elongated support members having free ends, said sup- 20 port members respectively guided by saidguide means for free movement together with said pane and said botton edge of said pane abutting against one of said free ends of each of said members; a pair of flexible members respectively attached with one of their ends to said other ends of said support members; a pair of counterweights respectively attached to said other ends of said flexible members and a pair ofpulleys over which said flexible members are respectively guided, said pulleys being located below said bottom edge of said pane and above said other ends of said support members when said pane and said support members are insaid upper window opening position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,978,782 Cherkasofi Oct. 30, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,378 Switzerland Dec. 5, 1896 139,627 Austria Nov. 26, 1934 

